Office of the Historian

64. Telegram From the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba to the Department of State1

Havana, August 31, 1979, 2103Z

8030. Subject: Demarche: Soviet Brigade in Cuba. Ref: (A) Havana 7962, (B) Fitzgerald-Smith telecon of Aug 31.2

1. Upon hearing BBC broadcast of Senator Church’s statement early this morning (Aug. 31)3 I called Foreign Ministry to ask where my urgent request for audience stood and to indicate it was of utmost importance that I be received today. Response was that Vice Minister Pelegrin Torras would receive me but could not do so until morning of Sept. 1. I indicated that was not adequate and urged either that Vice Minister find a few minutes during day or designate someone else to receive me.

2. Subsequently, I called Luis Garcia of North American Desk, explained situation to him and suggested he receive me and pass on substance of demarche to superiors. When he inquired as to nature of matter to be raised, I replied it had to do with deep concern of my government over presence Soviet military unit in Cuba. I emphasized that it would seem to be in interest of both sides to discuss matter as soon as possible. Garcia said he would consult and get back to me later.

3. Office of Protocol called back mid-afternoon to say Vice Minister still planned receive me 8:30 a.m. Sept. 1, could not do so sooner and that there no other Ministry officers, including Garcia, available, all being tied up with Summit.

4. I have complained to Ministry that communications between our two governments are hardly adequate if it takes two days to arrange interview on urgent basis. Ministry has registered complaint but is sticking to Sept. 1. In any event, in indicating nature of topic to be raised I have already made known USG concerns over presence Soviet unit. Cubans doubtless also listened to foreign radio broadcasts this [Page 132] morning. Dilatory approach in scheduling audience is clearly by design. They know what is to be discussed and want to postpone it. One reason may be so they they can first issue a statement of their own in response to Dept’s noon briefing.

5. I will report results of interview with Pelegrin Torras.

Smith
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840625–1184. Secret; Cherokee; Niact Immediate; Nodis.↩
  2. In telegram 7962 from Havana, August 30, the Interests Section reported that the Cubans told Smith that it would be necessary for him to wait a day or two before delivering his démarche, due to personnel “tied up” in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840131–1650) The August 31 telecon was not found.↩
  3. On August 30, Newsom briefed Church by telephone. During his press conference, Church remarked that the United States “cannot permit the island to become a Russian military base 90 miles from our shores, nor can we allow Cuba to be used as a springboard for Russian military intervention in the Western Hemisphere.” (“2,300-Man Soviet Unit Now in Cuba,” The Washington Post, August 31, p. A1)↩